Moistener.



N. 0. SHATZER.

MOISTENER. APPLICATION FILED APILQB. 1909.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

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NOR/MAN C. SHATZER, 0F ZULLINGER, PENNSYLVANIA.

MOISTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

Application filed April 28, 1909. Serial No. 492,702.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NORMAN C. SHATZER, citizen of the United States, residing at Zullinger, in the county of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Moisteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to moistener-s and has for its object to provide a comparatively simple and thoroughly efficient device of this character especially designed as a desk ornament and embodying in its structure a tray, pin cushion, pen rack and moistener.

A further object of the invention is to provide a moistener including a body portion having a liquid receiving reservoir and provided with an absorbent strip or wick, one end of which extends within the reservoir, while the other end thereof is attached to the downwardly inclined face of an overhanging projection on the body portion so that the same may be conveniently used for moistening the fingers or for moistening stamps, wrappers, envelops and other stationery.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability, and efiiciency, as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

Further objects and advantages will ap pear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a moistener constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same; Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view showing the opening through the front wall of the reservoir for the reception of the absorbent strip; Fig. t is a detail perspective view partly in section of the lower face of a portion of the cover showing the groove formed therein for the reception of the absorbent strip.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved device forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises a body portion 5 formed of glass, porcelain, metal or other suitable material, and of the contour or configuration of an animal, preferably a dog, in a recumbent position, so as to present an ornamental appearance and thus permit the device to be used as a desk ornament.

The side walls of the body portion 5 are extended longitudinally beyond the front wall 6 thereof and are carved, stamped, painted or molded to represent the forelegs and paws of the dog, the side walls of the body portion at the front thereof being spaced apart by a transverse strip 7 to form an intermediate compartment or tray 8 for vthe reception of paper clips, pins and the like. The body portion 5 is formed with a well or reservoir 9 adapted to contain a quantity of water or other liquid, said reservoir being closed by a lid or cover 10, one end of which is projected longitudinally beyond the adjacent front wall 6 of the body portion to form an overhanging eX- tension 11 constituting the head of the dog. The lower face of the cover 10 is rabbeted at 12 so as to engage the interior walls of the reservoir 9 and thus prevent accidental displacement of the lid or cover when the latter is positioned on the body portion. The lower face of the overhanging head or projection 11 is inclined downwardly in the direction of the front wall 6, and is provided with a seating groove 13 for the reception of a strip of felt or other absorbent material 14 constituting the moistener proper.

One end of the strip 14 is fastened to the overhanging projection 11 by a staple or similar fastening device 15, while the other end thereof extends through a recess 16 in the front wall 6 of the body portion and is immersed in the liquid in the reservoir 9 so that water will bev fed by capillary attraction in the exposed portion of the wick and thus keep the latter in a moist condition as long as there is any water in the reservoir. The wall of the groove 13 above the recess 16 is inclined downwardly, as indicated at 17, so as positively to direct the free end of the wick laterally, downwardly and rear wardly within the reservoir. It will here be noted that by making the lower face of the overhanging head or projection inclined upwardly from the front wall of the reservoir, the excess liquid will flow downwardly within said reservoir, thus effectually preventing the water from dripping off the end of the wick which it would have a tendency to do if the outer end of said wick were downwardly inclined from the body or disposed in a horizontal plane. A suitable opening 18 is formed in the cover 10 to permit the introduction of water or liquid within the reservoir 11 when the latter needs replenishing, said opening being normally closed by a plug or stopper 19, as shown.

Mounted on the cover 10 are a plurality of spring convolutions 20, one of which is connected in any suitable manner to the adjacent end of the body portion, while the other end thereof is anchored on the cover as shown, said convolutions forming the tail of the animal and constituting a rack for the reception of pens, pencils and other small articles.

The head or projection 11 is formed with a transverse substantially V-shaped recess in which is seated a pin cushion 21, there being flaps or strips secured to the opposite ends of the pin cushion to form the ears of the dog. Attention is here called to the fact that the fixed end of the strip or wick 14:

is isposed substantially flush with the bot-- tom of the overhanging head 11 and is en tirely housed thereby, while the side walls of the body portion at the compartment 8 are cutaway to permit a person to readily grasp the strip for the purpose of moistening the fingers or to position the gummed portion of an envelop or stamp, in contact therewith in order to moisten the glue or other adhesive material.

The base of the body portion is preferably formed with spaced transverse grooves :22 on which are seated strips of rubber, felt, or other yieldable material 23, which latter bear against the desk or other support and prevent the body portion from scratching or otherwise marring the same.

Thus it will be seen that there is provided a comparatively simple and inexpensive device which may be used as a moistener, pin cushion, pen rack and as a receptacle for paper clips, pens, and other small articles.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A moistener including a body portion having a liquid receiving reservoir, a cover engaging the body portion and having one end thereof extended longitudinally to form an upwardly inclined projection, the lower face of which is formed with a seating groove, and a strip of absorbent material seated in the groove of the overhanging projection and extending Within the reservoir.

2. A moistener including a body portion i having a liquid receiving reservoir, one wall of which is formed with a recess, a cover having one end thereof extended longitudinally to form an upwardly inclined projection, the lower face of which is formed with a seating groove, and a strip of absorbent material seated in said groove and having its inner end extended through the recess in the adjacent wall of the reservoir and immersed in the liquid in said reservoir.

3. A moistener including a body portion provided wit-h a liquid receiving reservoir and having its side walls extended longitudinally beyond the front wall of the reservoir and connected by a transverse strip to form a tray, a cover having one end thereof extended longitudinally over the tray and having its lower face inclined upwardly, and a strip of absorbent material secured to the inclined face of the overhanging portion of the cover with its opposite end immersed in the liquid in the reservoir.

A moistener including a body portion provided with a reservoir and having its side walls extended longitudinally beyond the front wall of the reservoir and connected by a transverse strip to form a tray, a cover provided at one end with a longitudinal extension overhanging the tray, the lower face of the extension being inclined upwardly and provided with a seating groove, there being a recess formed in the front wall of the reservoir and registering with the groove, a strip of absorbent material seated within the groove and having one end thereof attached to the overhanging portion of the cover and its other end passing through the recess in the wall of the reservoir, there being an inclined portion formed on the cover opposite the recess in the wall of the reservoir for directing the strip of absorbent material downwardly within the liquid in said reservoir.

5. A moistener including a body portion having a liquid receiving reservoir, a cover engaging the body portion and having one end thereof extended longitudinally to form an overhanging projection, the lower face of which is inclined downwardly in the direction of the reservoir, and a strip'of absorbent material having a portion thereof secured to the inclined face of the projec tion and another portion thereof immersed in the liquid in the reservoir.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NORMAN C. SHATZER. [Ls] lVitnesses:

W. R. SHATZER,

C. M. SHATZER. 

